A different way to fight chimney fires...

OK, I promised that once in a while, there would be an actual post related to the art and science of firefighting - here is my two cents worth...

Here in the North East, we get a lot of chimney fires during the winter. Wintertime is actually the worst time of year for fires, period, which makes sense... Anyhow...

The normal drill for chimney fires is to get on the roof with a ladder or aerial truck, drop chains down the chimney to break up any creosote, then drop bags full of dry chemical agent down the chimney to snuff the fire. At the same time, you have a search team go into the house with a charged hose line to check for extension into the house. If there is extension, it is no longer a chimney fire, it is now a working structure fire. You normally don't put water down the chimney because it will destroy the liner of the chimney. With me so far? This works so-so. There is another way to handle chimney fires that one department uses around here:

Another department uses a positive pressure vent fan to blow a column of air right into the fireplace. With a strong air flow going through the chimney, dump the contents of a 20lb extinguisher into the fireplace so it goes up the chimney. This sounds good, except that the top of the chimney will look like a rocket initially, and if there is a crack in the liner, it will blow the fire right into the house.

Here is my idea of how to handle chimney fires:

What is needed?

• Two, 20lb dry chem extinguishers loaded with Triple-K fire agent.
• Modify the hoses on the extinguishers so either a straight pipe 4' long or a 6', L shaped pipe can be mounted in place of the nozzles.
• A ladder to access the roof.
• Chain bag if the chimney is blocked.
• One engine (initial response) with a full crew (six persons or more).

On arrival, perform a 360 and assess if the fire appears to be limited to the chimney. If yes, proceed, otherwise treat as a working structure fire.

If it looks like it is limited to the chimney, have a team go into the fireplace with a 20lb extinguisher with the straight pipe. The pipe is stuck as far up the flue as possible and the discharged. At the same time, a charged hose line is laid to the front door and a second team gos in with a thermal imager to check for extension around the chimney. If there is any indication of extension, the hose line comes in and the walls get opened up.

The second arriving team puts a ladder onto the side of the house and climbs to the roof with the second extinguisher and the L shaped pipe. The tip of the pipe is put into the top of the chimney and discharged. This should extinguish any fire from both ends of the chimney, even if there is a blockage. The chain bag is then run down the chimney to break up the creosote and any blockages.

Here is the idea behind this:

On arrival, the first clue that you are facing a chimney fire is flames and smoke pouring out of the chimney. This is caused by the creosote in the chimney catching fire. There is normally a strong airflow up the chimney caused by convection, which causes the rocket-like appearance.

We are going to use this airflow on the initial attack with the fire extinguisher into the fireplace. The length of pipe on the end of the hose ensures that all of the agent gets past the flue into the chimney. The second team checks for extension with a thermal imager and no hose line to allow them to move as quickly as possible. The hose line is available if needed. The third team puts additional dry chem down the chimney from the top with the second extinguisher in the event there is a blockage in the chimney. The chain bag at the end makes sure there is no blockage. Additional agent may be needed if there is still evidence of fire after the chain bag opens up the chimney.

The whole idea behind this is to get the fire out as fast as possible, with as little damage as possible to the house. Total elapsed time for the first two teams is probably about two minutes.

Thoughts? Ideas? How do you fight chimney fires - let's share ideas!

God before all...

Before everything else in my life, I am a Christian and a Catholic. I don't know how good of a Catholic I am, but that is a lifelong struggle.

If you look at the title of my blog, after God, I am a husband. I have been married only once in my life, 18 years to date to an incredible, wonderful girl. As a result of this marriage, I am the father of seven children. All of them are miracles. The youngest wants to cuddle to sleep with me every night, and the oldest is on his way to getting his learners permit. In between are three daughters and two more son's that are a blessing every day.

I am also a firefighter, and that is where this is going. When the "tones drop" - the alarm goes off - I am a firefighter, first and foremost. In my mind and my heart, it has to be that way. Going back to God, I believe that my being a firefighter is my vocation. It sounds corny, but I guess not too many people do this. I don't understand that - it's not as dangerous as it seems and its incredibly rewarding. It's also tremendously serious - when you dial 911, I am the guy that drives up on the big, red engine. I have been involved in three CPR in progress calls - two of those people did not survive. I can still see their faces.

Where is this all going? There is something going on that bothers me in my department, and maybe in the world. People are, in general, not passionate about being firefighters. Oh, they like wearing the gear and riding on the apparatus, but they don't seem to take the training seriously or the work that goes into being a firefighter. It's a lot of work - no one takes care of our equipment for us. We get taxpayer money for direct expenses, but we have to raise funds for everything else that we do. Training is also a lot of work. It takes time away from the family, it is hard work, and sometimes it can be frustrating - but it is as important as showing up for alarms, if not more so. If you don't have the training to do the job, how can you expect to help someone at an alarm.

I am going to run for Captain next year. That means that I will have to lead my brother firefighters at an alarm, train them to be ready to do their job, and take on more responsibility in the running of the department. In my mind, an officer also needs to be an example to the firefighters. How can I instill in them the same passion for the job that I have? How can I get them to take being a firefighter as seriously and passionately as I do? And how can I do it without seeming corny or like a pompous ass?

I wonder if this is a symptom of a larger problem in the world today. How many people out there are passionate about what they do? How many people out there see that they serve their fellow man? So many people today live life asking the question, "What's in it for me?" Whether it has to do with their choice of college major or deciding to pull over and help a stranger change a flat tire, every decision begins with the question, "What's in it for me?"

There was a time when the world was full of hero's. What is a hero? Someone who does the job, does what is needed without thinking about "What's in it for me?". How do we get back to a time when hero's walked the streets every day?

Some people have called me a hero. I shudder when I hear that. I am not a hero - I am just a normal guy. I have a gift, I think, for doing this kind of work, and I have a responsibility to use the gifts God has given me. Doesn't everyone look at the world this way?